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These recent photographs by Art DeVoe clearly indicate that Delaware’s Mispillion Lighthouse may not last much longer.

Along with his wife, Art DeVoe, of Washington, North Carolina, decided to make the trip to Delaware to check out this lighthouse that has been on the Doomsday List since its inception. Even though they knew it was on the list they were shocked at its appearance and condition.

Located on the Delaware Bay about 12 miles from the town of Milford, the lighthouse is down a small narrow street lined with bungalows and fishermen’s cottages, far off the beaten path.

As seen from the photos, the lantern room has broken windows which has allowed water to run down and through the structure causing much damage. There are no interior walls or ceilings and very little flooring left in the lighthouse. What is left of the flooring is littered with garbage and looks like people have been using it as a hang out.

The lighthouse is for sale along with the restaurant behind it for an unbelievable $4 million. Given its location, there is no restaurant that could be put here to generate enough money to cover a $4 million investment. It would need to be simply someone, wealthy enough to buy it and save it as a part of history. Perhaps someone who would want to leave a legacy.

Many of the shingles and supports are gone as well as most of the windowpanes. One chimney has crumbled, the front tower windows are gone and looking at the roof, you can see the holes. Looking at the door you can see that one of the panels of the boarding-up is missing, allowing for interior photos of the building to be taken,

DeVoe says that in some way he hopes that these photographs will inspire people to save this once proud lighthouse. However, he said, “Being so secluded, it would probably be difficult to generate interest because as the old saying says ‘out of sight - out of mind’.”

This story appeared in the January 2001 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.

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